Exercise assisting tool

ABSTRACT

An exercise assisting tool includes a seating surface on which a user is seated, and a body portion having a bottom surface formed in a substantially spherical shape. A height H of the seating surface at a lowermost point is set in a range from 100 mm to 450 mm, and a regulator is further provided to suppress any slippage of buttocks of the user from the seating surface. The exercise assisting tool is structured so that the user seated on the seating surface is allowed to tilt the seating surface in all directions while having the bottom surface in contact with the ground surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an exercise assisting tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of different exercises have been introduced these days tomaintain physical appearance and wellness, and a variety of exerciseassisting tools have been proposed in accordance with the respectivetypes of exercises so as to further improve effects of the exercises.The Patent Document 1 discloses an exercise assisting tool used toassist a user in performing an exercise involving rotational motion andtwisting of the waist. The exercise assisting tool having a body portionformed in a spinning top-like shape assists the user seated on an uppersurface of the body portion in the exercise, for example, rotationalmotion of the waist and the like.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: JP Application Publication No. 09-135921

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, it is not easy to largely tilt the body portion of the exerciseassisting tool. Therefore, the radius of rotation of the user's waistupon exercise of rotational motions is reduced, failing to do theexercise effectively. When using the exercise assisting tool, the userneeds to sit down nearly to a ground level, which may impose a burden onthe lower back of the user.

It is further disclosed in the Patent Document 1 that the exerciseassisting tool may be placed on a pedestal to alleviate any physicalburden on the user when sitting thereon. However, it may be troublesomefor the user to prepare such a pedestal for the exercise assisting toolto be placed on. In the case where the user uses the exercise assistingtool placed on the pedestal, it is not easy to largely tilt the bodyportion as described above. It is difficult to solve the problem ofincapability of effective exercise.

The present invention made on the background as described above providesan exercise assisting tool that is easy to use and ensures improvementin the effect of the lower back exercise.

Means for Solving Problems

According to an aspect of the invention, an exercise assisting toolincludes a seating surface on which a user is seated, and a body portionhaving a bottom surface formed in a substantially spherical shape. Aheight of the seating surface at a lowermost point is in a range from100 mm to 450 mm. A regulator means is provided to suppress any slippagebetween buttocks of the seated user and the seating surface.

Effect of the Invention

The exercise assisting tool is configured such that the height of theseating surface at the lowermost point is in the specific range asdescribed above, and the bottom surface has a substantially sphericalshape. The exercise assisting tool allows the user to tilt the seatingsurface in all directions with the bottom surface that is kept incontact with the ground by moving the waist relative to the feet on theground as a base point while being seated on the exercise assistingtool. Further, the exercise assisting tool with the height of theseating surface in the specific range, ensures a large movable range ofthe tilting seating surface. This allows a movable range of the user'swaist to be broadened. Therefore, the user increases the radius ofrotation of the waist by the use of the exercise assisting tool to allowmuscles of the waist to be twisted more effectively during the exercise.

The exercise assisting tool includes regulator means to prevent slippageof the user's buttocks from the seating surface. This eliminates theneed for the user to hold the exercise assisting tool with hands duringthe exercise. The exercise assisting tool ensures sufficient exercisingeffect in the waist by a synergy effect derived from both the predefinedheight range of the seating surface and the regulator means.

The height of the seating surface set in the predefined range mayalleviate any physical burden on the user who is seated thereon. Becauseof these advantages, the exercise assisting tool is very easy for theuser to use.

As described above, the exercise assisting tool according to the aspectis easy to use and assists a user in effective exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise assisting tool according toa first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the exercise assisting tool according to thefirst embodiment seen from the side of a raised portion (from a frontside);

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the exercise assisting tool according to thefirst embodiment seen from the side of a seating surface (from an upperside);

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line C-C illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line D-D illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line E-E illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a plan view seen from a rear side of the exercise assistingtool according to the first embodiment where a user is seated thereon;

FIG. 10 is a plan view seen from a rear side in a state where a user isexercising with the exercise assisting tool according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the exercise assisting tool according to thefirst embodiment, which tilts toward a lateral side portion;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of an exercise assisting tool according to asecond embodiment, in which different materials are used to form aseating surface member and a bottom surface member (sectional viewcorresponding to FIG. 3);

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the exercise assisting tool according tothe second embodiment, in which different materials are used to form theseating surface member and the bottom surface member (sectional viewcorresponding to FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a support stand according to a fourthembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an exercise assisting tool according tothe fourth embodiment where a support stand is interposed between aground contact surface and a ground surface;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of support handles according to a fifthembodiment; and

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the support handles taken along line F-Fillustrated according to the fifth embodiment.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The height of the seating surface of the exercise assisting tool isdefined by measuring a height of the seating surface at a lowermostpoint from a ground surface while having the bottom surface in contactwith the ground surface such that a center portion of the seatingsurface is located vertically upward from a ground contact point. Theheight of the seating surface thus defined is substantially equal to aheight of a lowermost point of the user's buttocks from the groundsurface when the user is seated on the seating surface while having theback straightened.

The height of the seating surface (lowermost point) is at least 100 mmto at most 450 mm. According to the exercise assisting tool, the heightof the seating surface is set to be in the predefined range. This allowsthe user's waist to be appropriately apart from the ground surface.Accordingly, the user seated on the exercise assisting tool can easilytilt the seating surface by moving the waist while having the feet incontact with the ground. This broadens a movable range of the user'swaist, thus increasing a degree of freedom of rotating motion of thewaist. As a result, the exercise assisting tool can achieve a betterexercising effect for the user's waist. Further, the seating surfacewith the suitably adjustable height allows the user to sit down on theexercise assisting tool effortlessly.

The height of the seating surface smaller than 100 mm makes it difficultfor the user to sit down on the seating surface. Additionally, theseating surface and the ground surface are too close to providesufficient effect of the exercise because of a narrow movable range ofthe user's waist. Therefore, the height of the seating surface is set toat least 100 mm, preferably at least 140 mm, and more preferably atleast 160 mm.

In the case where the height of the seating surface is larger than 450mm, the user's waist is too distant from the ground level, making itdifficult for the user to move the waist in a well-balanced mannerbecause of elevated center of gravity. Then, it becomes difficult forthe user to smoothly move the waist using the exercise assisting tool,resulting in insufficient exercising effect. To avoid the problem, theheight of the seating surface is at most 450 mm, preferably at most 350mm, more preferably at most 300 mm, and even more preferably at most 200mm. In view of a desirable movable range of the user's waist and easybalancing, it is particularly desirable that the height of the seatingsurface be at least 160 mm to at most 200 mm.

It is necessary that the body portion be produced from a material thatsubstantially prevents the bottom surface from deforming when the useris seated on the seating surface. This ensures the exercise assistingtool to reliably retain the height of the seating surface and the userto smoothly tilt the seating surface by taking advantage of the bottomsurface shape.

The shape of the body portion is not particularly limited so long as thetilting motion of the seating surface is not obstructed. A variety ofshapes of the body portion are available, for example, a substantiallysemi-spherical overall shape formed by a smoothly curved surfacecontinuous to the bottom surface, and a cuboidal shape having a surfacethereof formed in a substantially spherical shape so as to be used asthe bottom surface. As far as the bottom surface is formed in asubstantially spherical shape, shapes of any other parts of the bodyportion are not particularly limited.

The substantially spherical shape indicating the shape of the bottomsurface is not geometrically perfect spherical shape but is a conceptualexpression of the shape including any shapes visually recognized asspherical in general. The bottom surface may have a portion having adifferent curvature as far as the tilting motion is smoothly performedin all directions. For example, the curvature radius of the bottomsurface may not be uniform but is reduced toward a peripheral edgethereof. Alternatively, the bottom surface may not be rotatedsymmetrically about a center axis, while having different curvatureradii in two directions orthogonal to each other.

The regulator means may be provided in various aspects. The simplestaspect of the regulator means is realized by producing the seatingsurface formed of a material with a high coefficient of friction so asto suppress any slippage between the user's buttocks and the seatingsurface under the frictional force.

Another aspect of the regulator means is formed by providing ashape-change portion on the seating surface or a peripheral areathereof, which has its shape in accordance with a shape of at least apart of the buttocks, waist, or groin of the user seated on the seatingsurface. This makes it possible to support the buttocks, waist, or groinby taking advantage of the shape so that the slippage between the user'sbuttocks and the seating surface is suppressed.

Still another aspect of the regulator means is realized by producing theseating surface from a material easily deformable along the shape of theuser's buttocks or groin thereon, for example, a low-resilient elasticfoam, such that the buttocks is fit with the seating surface moreclosely, and accordingly, the slippage therebetween is suppressed. Thesedifferent aspects are applicable in combination.

A pair of lateral side portions may be provided as the regulator meansat positions corresponding to sides of a pelvic part of the user seatedon the seating surface, which stand upright having the seating surfaceinterposed therebetween. In this case, the exercise assisting toolprovided with the pair of lateral side portions suppresses slippagebetween the user's buttocks and the seating surface, thus helping theuser's pelvic part in follow-up of the movement of the seating surface.While exercising by rotating the waist, the exercise assisting tool islikely to form an angle between the pelvic part and the waist, assistingthe user in twisting muscles of the waist more effectively. As a result,the exercise assisting tool achieves a better exercising effect.

The lateral side portions may be configured to have plastic properties,and to laterally apply a pressing force to the pelvic part of the userseated on the seating surface. In this case, the exercise assisting toolprovided with the lateral side portions allows the user's pelvic part tobe supported with the pair of lateral side portions. This makes theuser's pelvic part better fit the seating surface, allowing the pelvicpart to follow up the movement of the seating surface. Then, the usercan even more effectively twist muscles of the waist using the exerciseassisting tool, thus further improving the exercising effect.

Preferably, a height of the lateral side portion measured from thelowermost point of the seating surface to an uppermost point of thelateral side portion is in a range from 100 mm to 250 mm. The exerciseassisting tool having the height of the lateral side portions in thepredefined range can effectively support the user's pelvic part in astable manner and also allow the user to smoothly perform the exercisewithout interfering with the rotational movement of the waist, thusfurther improving the exercising effect.

In the case where the height of the lateral side portion is smaller than100 mm, the exercise assisting tool may fail to stably support theuser's pelvic part as effectively as expected. Therefore, the height ofthe lateral side portion is set to at least 100 mm, preferably at least120 mm, and more preferably at least 140 mm. In the case where theheight of the lateral side portion exceeds 250 mm, the lateral sideportion may interfere with the smooth exercise. Therefore, the height ofthe lateral side portion is set to at most 250 mm, preferably at most200 mm, and more preferably at most 180 mm.

The seating surface may be configured to have a raised portion raisedfrom a periphery thereof, which serves as the regulator means in acenter of the seating surface at a front-end side. In this case, theraised portion is formed along the shape of the user's groin. Theseating surface is shaped to ensure suppression of slippage between theuser's buttocks and the seating surface. Further, the seating surfacefacilitates to adjust the seating location to the position that allowseffective exercise.

The body portion has a core body and an outer surface member whichcovers the core body. The core body includes a bottom surface memberlocated at the bottom surface side, and a seating surface member locatedat the seating surface side, which are formed by using differentmaterials, respectively. This allows the bottom surface member to have ahardness degree greater than that of the seating surface member. Thebottom surface member is formed of a relatively hard material so as tosuppress the bottom surface from sinking under the user's weight. Thismay facilitate the exercise assisting tool to retain the substantiallyspherical shape of the bottom surface. The exercise assisting tool,having the seating surface member produced from a relatively flexiblematerial, alleviates the physical burden on the user's waist and allowsthe user's body to more comfortably fit in the seating surface.

The material for forming the bottom surface member may be made highlyresistant against the burden to the waist of the user so as not to bedeformed under the user's weight, for example, plastics such aspolyurethane and polystyrene, and expandable plastics such as hardpolyurethane foam and polystyrene foam.

As the material of the seating surface member, expandable plasticshaving plasticity such as flexible polyurethane foam may be employed.When a material easily deformable under the user's weight, for example,low-resilient elastic foam, is used to form the seating surface member,the seating surface member is allowed to function as the regulator meansas well. Though the seating surface member may be largely deformed bythe user seated thereon, the exercising effect can be improved as far asthe height of the deformed seating surface (lowermost point) is in therange from 100 mm to 450 mm.

The outer surface member provided for the exercise assisting tool servesto suppress wear resulting from the use of the exercise assisting tool.As the outer surface member, a fabric material and a coating materialmay be employed. Preferably, the outer surface member provided near thebottom surface is made of a material having a relatively high wearresistance.

The exercise assisting tool preferably has a center of gravity set at aposition where the seating surface is directed upward when the exerciseassisting tool is left by itself. This allows the user to minimizes theaction to adjust the direction before using the exercise assisting tool.This may eliminate a large action, for example, the one for verticallyreversing the exercise assisting tool. Further, the user is allowed toreadily balance on the seating surface directed upward. The resultantexercise assisting tool becomes easier to use.

Preferably, a curvature radius of the bottom surface is in a range from130 mm to 250 mm. The exercise assisting tool, having the curvatureradius of the bottom surface in the predefined range, is capable ofregulating the tilt of the seating surface in the movable range of theuser's waist to a titling range suitable to the exercise. Morespecifically, the exercise assisting tool is capable of regulating thetilt of the seating surface to a range that is sufficiently wide toenhance the effect of the rotational motion and allows the user tobalance easily.

If the curvature radius of the bottom surface is below 130 mm, there maybe the risk of excessively increasing the tilt of the seating surface inthe movable range of the user's waist. Therefore, the curvature radiusof the bottom surface is preferably set to at least 130 mm, morepreferably at least 150 mm, and further preferably at least 160 mm. Onthe other hand, if the curvature radius of the bottom surface exceeds250 mm, the tilt of the seating surface is likely to be insufficient.This may cause the risk of reducing the exercising effect in therotational motion of the waist, for example. Therefore, the curvatureradius of the bottom surface is preferably set to at most 250 mm, morepreferably at most 230 mm, and further preferably at most 220 mm.

A radius of a virtual circle may be used to express the curvature radiusof the bottom surface. First, a reference axis extending verticallythrough a ground contact point of the bottom surface is defined. Next,two points on the bottom surface vertically distant by 50 mm from theground contact point are defined on a longitudinally sectional surfaceof the body portion including the reference axis. Then, a radius of thevirtual circle passing through three points, that is, two points and theground contact point, is set as the curvature radius of the bottomsurface.

The exercise assisting tool may be configured to have a support standthat can be interposed between the bottom surface and a ground surface,which is configured to control a tilting motion of the exerciseassisting tool. In this case, the user is capable of controllingunnecessary tilting motions of the exercise assisting tool by the use ofthe support stand that may be interposed between the bottom surface andthe ground contact surface. This allows the exercise assisting tool tobe readily stored when not in use. The user is further allowed to usethe exercise assisting tool having the tilting motion controlled by thesupport stand as a chair.

The exercise assisting tool may be configured to have a pair of left andright support handles used by the user when using the exercise assistingtools according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which are providedseparately from the exercise assisting tool, each of which has a gripperconfigured to be gripped by the user, a ground contact portion placed onthe ground surface, and a non-slip portion formed on the ground contactportion, which are configured to suppress a slippage of the groundcontact portion placed on the ground surface. The user is allowed toplace the ground contact portion on the ground surface while grippingthe gripper to control the tilting motion of the exercise assistingtool.

The support handles are configured to allow the user of the exerciseassisting tool to place the ground contact portion on the ground surfacewhile gripping the grippers. Accordingly, the user of the exerciseassisting tool can balance among three points, legs and the pair ofsupport handles. The support handles serve to suppress the positionalslippage by means of the non-slip portions formed in the ground contactportions. The exercise assisting tool thus becomes easier to use.

EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an exercise assisting tool will bedescribed in detail referring to FIGS. 1 to 11. As illustrated in FIG.1, an exercise assisting tool 1 has a body portion 10 having a seatingsurface 2 on which a user is seated and a bottom surface 3 formed in asubstantially spherical shape. The exercise assisting tool 1, asillustrated in FIG. 3, has a height H of the seating surface 2 at alowermost point 20 in a range from 100 mm to 450 mm. The exerciseassisting tool 1 further has lateral side portions 4 and a raisedportion 21 as regulator means for suppressing any slippage of the user'sbuttocks from the seating surface 2.

Directions in the following description representing up, down, front,and back are respectively expressed as those of the exercise assistingtool 1 in the state where the user is seated on the seating surface 2with the back straight up.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, an outline of the body portion 10 seen fromthe side of the seating surface 2 (from an upper side) has asubstantially elliptical shape, and an inner part of the body portionconstitutes the seating surface 2. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 to 8,the seating surface 2 has the raised portion 21 on a front side, morespecifically, in a front-end center part thereof. The raised portion 21has a gently curved surface and is higher than other portions. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an outline of the body portion 10 whenseen from the front side has a circular arc shape. The body portion 10has the pair of lateral side portions 4 that stand upright from theseating surface 2 on lateral sides of the seating surface 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the seating surface 2 has the lowermost point20 in a rear direction relative to a center portion 22 of the seatingsurface 2, in other words, in a direction opposite the raised portion21. The seating surface 2 is gently tilting from a peripheral edgethereof toward the lowermost point 20, thus forming a smooth continuouscurved surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the height H of the seating surface 2 is equalto a height of the lowermost point 20 of the seating surface 2 from theground surface as a base point when the bottom surface 3 is in contactwith the ground such that the center portion 22 of the seating surface 2is located vertically upward from a ground contact point 30. It issubstantially equal to a height of the lowermost point of the user'sbuttocks from the ground surface when the user is seated on the seatingsurface 2 with the back straight up in a natural state. In thisembodiment, the height H of the seating surface 2 is 185 mm.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom surface 3 has asubstantially spherical shape. In this embodiment, a curvature radius Rof the bottom surface 3 measured in a front-back direction is 177 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the raised portion 21 is formed in thefront-end center part of the seating surface 2, at which the user'sgroin is located. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the raised portion 21 isgradually raised from other portions toward the front end of the seatingsurface 2 on a straight line drawn to connect the lowermost point 20 ofthe seating surface 2 and the center portion 22 of the seating surface2. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the seating surface 2 including theraised portion 21 has a gentle continuous curved surface.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paired lateral side portions 4 areformed in pair so as to stand upright with the seating surface 2interposed therebetween at lateral sides, more specifically, atpositions of the seating surface 2 corresponding to sides of the pelvicpart of the user seated on the seating surface 2. When seen from thefront side, the lateral side portions 4 in pair are more curved towardthe seating surface 2 as they extend in an upper direction, as shown inFIG. 2. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 8, surfaces of the pair oflateral side portions 4 in contact with the user have gentle curvedshapes so that each center portion is more depressed than peripheralportions in a direction opposite the seating surface 2. The pair oflateral side portions 4 can fit well with the shapes of the user'sbuttocks and waist. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the seating surface2 and the surfaces of the pair of lateral side portions 4 in contactwith the user are formed with a gentle continuous curved surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the paired lateral side portions 4 hassuch a radial shape that an outline thereof when laterally seen has awidth gradually reduced upward from the seating surface 2. In theembodiment, a height I of the lateral side portion 4 is 178 mm. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the height I of the lateral side portion 4 isequal to the height from the lowermost point 20 of the seating surface 2to an uppermost point 40 of the lateral side portions 4 measured whenthe bottom surface 3 is placed on the ground likewise the measurement ofthe height H of the seating surface 2.

A method of using the exercise assisting tool 1 will be described below.As illustrated in FIG. 9, the user is seated on the seating surface 2 ofthe exercise assisting tool 1 with the back straight up. Then, the usershakes or rotates the waist while keeping the upper body posture.Accordingly, the user can tilt the seating surface 2 while horizontallymoving the seating surface 2 as illustrated in FIG. 11. As illustratedin FIG. 10, the exercise assisting tool 1 is used to rotate or twistmuscles of the user's body around the waist.

Next, operational effects of the exercise assisting tool 1 will bedescribed. The exercise assisting tool 1 has the height H of thelowermost point 20 of the seating surface 2, which is in the predefinedrange and the bottom surface 3 with a substantially spherical shape.Therefore, the user seated on the exercise assisting tool 1 is capableof tilting the seating surface 2 in all directions with the bottomsurface 3 in contact with the ground by moving the waist while havingthe feet in contact with the ground as a base point of the movement.Further, the exercise assisting tool 1 has the specific height H so asto ensure a large movable range of the tilting seating surface 2appropriately. That is, this allows the user to broaden the movablerange of the waist. Therefore, the user of the exercise assisting tool 1increases a rotating radius of the rotational motion of the waist toexercise muscles of the waist by twisting effectively. When the height Hof the seating surface 2 is set to be in the predefined range, theexercise assisting tool 1 allows the user to improve the exercisingeffect resulting from the rotational motion of the user's waist.

The exercise assisting tool 1 has the paired lateral side potions 4standing upright with the seating surface 2 interposed therebetween, andthe raised portion 21 formed in the front-end center part of the seatingsurface 2, both of which serve as the regulator means. The height I ofthe lateral side portion 4 measured from the lowermost point 20 of theseating surface 2 to the uppermost point 40 of the lateral side portion4 is set to be in the predefined range. The seating surface 2, theraised portion 21, and surfaces of the paired lateral side portions 4 incontact with the user constitute the gentle continuous curved surfacethat follows the shapes of the user's buttocks, waist, and groin, thussupporting the user's buttocks, waist, and groin by taking advantage ofthe shape. Therefore, the user needs not hold the exercise assistingtool 1 with hands during the exercise. The exercise assisting tool 1enables the user to smoothly perform the exercise, such as rotationalmotion of the waist, while being seated on such a position that allowsthe effective exercise and suppresses the slippage of the buttocks fromthe seating surface 2. Thus, the exercising effect on the waist of theexercise assisting tool 1 can be sufficiently improved by a synergyeffect of the predefined range of the seating surface height H and theregulator means.

The height H of the seating surface 2 set to be in the predefined rangemay alleviate any physical burden on the user when seating thereon. As aresult, the exercise assisting tool 1 becomes easy for the user to use.

The curvature radius R of the bottom surface 3 is set to be in thepredefined range. Therefore, the exercise assisting tool 1 can regulatethe tilting motion of the seating surface 2 in the movable range of theuser's waist to be in the range that is sufficiently wide to improve theeffect of the rotational motion, and assists the user in balancing.

The exercise assisting tool 1 is easy to use while ensuring theeffective exercise.

Second Embodiment

This embodiment is an example where a plurality of materials are used toproduce the body portion 10 of the exercise assisting tool 1 accordingto the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the exerciseassisting tool 1 according to this embodiment has a core body 17 and anouter surface member 15 which covers the core body 17, both of whichserve as the body portion 10. The core body 17 includes a bottom surfacemember 13 located at a side of the bottom surface 3, and a seatingsurface member 12 located at a side of the seating surface 2, which areformed of different materials.

The materials used to form the bottom surface member 13 and the seatingsurface member 12 are urethane foams respectively having differentdegrees of hardness. The material of the seating surface member 12 is aflexible urethane foam having plasticity so that the seating surfacemember 12 is deformable to a certain extent along the user's body shapewhen seating thereon. The material of the bottom surface member 13 is ahard urethane foam having a larger degree of hardness than the seatingsurface member 12. Therefore, the bottom surface member 13 is unlikelyto deform when the user is seated on the seating surface 2.

The paired lateral side portions 4 are formed integrally with theseating surface member 12 from the flexible urethane foam having thesame properties. For this reason, the paired lateral side portions 4have plasticity, and are adapted to laterally apply a pressing force tothe user's pelvic part when the user is seated on the seating surface 2.The degree of hardness of the flexible urethane foam used in thisembodiment as the material of the seating surface member 12 was 12degrees when measured with a Shore durometer (model: LX-C, WenzhouSundoo Instruments Co., Ltd., China).

Fabric materials are used for forming the outer surface member 15. Thefabric material having a high wear resistance is used for any portionthat is liable to wear such as the bottom surface 3.

The exercise assisting tool 1 according to this embodiment has a centerof gravity set at a position where the seating surface 2 is directedupward when it is left by itself. As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, thebottom surface member 13 having a relatively high density is formed in ashape that allows the bottom surface member 13 to be almost rotationsymmetric with respect to a center axis. For this reason, the center ofgravity of the exercise assisting tool 1 is set as described above. Therest of the part is similar to those of the first embodiment.

Next, operational effects of this embodiment will be described.According to this embodiment, the center of gravity of the exerciseassisting tool 1 is set at the position where the seating surface 2 isdirected upward when it is left by itself. This allows the user tominimize the motion to adjust the direction of the exercise assistingtool 1 before its use. Further, the user is allowed to readily balanceon the seating surface 2 directed upward. Then, resultant exerciseassisting tool 1 becomes further easier to use.

The lateral side portions 4 have plastic properties, and are configuredto laterally apply a pressing force to the pelvic part of the userseated on the seating surface 2. The lateral side portions 4 allow theexercise assisting tool 1 to support the pelvic part of the user. Thismay provide better fit between the user's pelvic part and the seatingsurface 2, thus helping the pelvic part in the follow-up of the movementof the seating surface 2. As a result, the exercise assisting tool 1allows the user to exercise by twisting muscles of the waist.

The body portion 10 has the core body 17 and the outer surface member 15which covers the core body 17. The core body 17 has the bottom surfacemember 13 located at the side of the bottom surface 3 and the seatingsurface member 12 located at the side of the seating surface 2, whichare formed of different materials. The bottom surface member 13 hasgreater hardness degree than that of the seating surface member 12. Useof a relatively hard material for forming the bottom surface member 13substantially eliminates the likelihood that the bottom surface 3 issunk under the user's weight. Then, the exercise assisting tool 1 isliable to retain the shape of the bottom surface 3. Further, use of arelatively soft material for forming the seating surface member 12alleviates physical burden on the user's waist and improves the fitbetween the user and the exercise assisting tool 1. The seating surfacemember 12 of the exercise assisting tool 1 may be used as the regulatormeans to suppress the slippage of the user's buttocks. This embodimentprovides the effects similar to those described in the first embodiment.

Though the first and second embodiments are configured to allow aplurality of portions to serve as the regulator means, for example, thepair of lateral side portions 4, at least one portion may be provided tofunction as the regulator means. For example, in place of the pair oflateral side portions 4 according to the first embodiment, the seatingsurface 2 and the raised portion 21 may be used as the regulator meansto support the user's buttocks or groin by taking advantage of theshape. Meanwhile, it is possible to omit the raised portion 21 andprovide the paired lateral side portions 4 alone as the regulator means.Besides the support by means of the configuration, other methods may beemployed, for example, a fabric material with a large coefficient offriction may be used to form the outer surface member 15 so as tosuppress the slippage between the seating surface 2 and the user'sbuttocks under the frictional force.

Third Embodiment

This embodiment is obtained by variously changing the height H of theseating surface 2, each height I of the pair of lateral side portions 4,the curvature radius R of the bottom surface 3, and the degree ofhardness of the seating surface member 12 of the exercise assisting tool1 according to the second embodiment.

<Height H of Seating Surface>

As shown in Table 1, test products 1 to 10 were prepared, in which theheight H of the seating surface 2 of the exercise assisting tool 1according to the second embodiment was variously changed. Table 1 showsresults of exercising effects of those test products when they were usedfor the waist exercise. For the symbols, ⊚, ◯, Δ and X in Table 1, of 10persons, ⊚ denotes that 8 persons or more felt good exercising effect inthe waist, ◯ denotes that 5 persons or more felt likewise, Δ denotesthat 3 persons or more felt likewise, and X represents that 2 persons orless felt satisfied. Those symbols ⊚, ◯, and Δ were evaluated asacceptable.

TABLE 1 HEIGHT (H) OF LEVEL OF SEATING EXERCISING TEST PRODUCT No.SURFACE (mm) EFFECT TEST PRODUCT 1 460 X TEST PRODUCT 2 448 Δ TESTPRODUCT 3 350 Δ TEST PRODUCT 4 293 ◯ TEST PRODUCT 5 191 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 6185 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 7 160 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 8 143 ◯ TEST PRODUCT 9 105 ΔTEST PRODUCT 10 95 X

<Height I of Lateral Side Portion>

As indicated by Table 2, test products 11 to 19 were prepared bychanging each height I of the lateral side portion 4 of the exerciseassisting tool 1 according to the second embodiment. Table 2 shows easeof exercise upon use of the respective test products for the exercise ofrotational motion of the waist. As for the symbols ⊚, ◯, Δ, and X inTable 2, of 10 persons, ⊚ represents that 8 persons or more felt ease ofthe rotational motion of the waist, ◯ represents that 5 persons or morefelt ease, Δ represents that 3 persons or more felt ease, and Xrepresents that 2 persons or less felt ease. The test products markedwith ⊚, ◯, and Δ were evaluated as acceptable products.

TABLE 2 HEIGHT (I) OF LATERAL SIDE EASE OF TEST PRODUCT No. PORTION (mm)EXERCISE TEST PRODUCT 11 255 Δ TEST PRODUCT 12 250 ◯ TEST PRODUCT 13 195◯ TEST PRODUCT 14 178 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 15 153 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 16 141 ⊚ TESTPRODUCT 17 137 ◯ TEST PRODUCT 18 120 ◯ TEST PRODUCT 19 85 Δ

<Curvature Radius R of Bottom Surface>

As indicated by Table 3, test products 21 to 30 were prepared bychanging each curvature radius R of the bottom surface 3 according tothe second embodiment. Table 3 shows a result of ease of exercise uponuse of the respective test products for the exercise of rotationalmotion of the waist. As for the symbols ⊚, ◯, Δ, and X in Table 3, of 10persons, ⊚ represents that 8 persons or more felt ease of rotationalmotion of the waist, ◯ represents that 5 persons or more felt ease, Δrepresents that 3 persons or more felt ease, and X represents that 2persons or less felt ease. The test products marked with ⊚, ◯, and Δwere evaluated as acceptable.

TABLE 3 CURVATURE RADIUS (R) OF BOTTOM EASE OF TEST PRODUCT No. SURFACE(mm) EXERCISE TEST PRODUCT 21 260 Δ TEST PRODUCT 22 243 ◯ TEST PRODUCT23 225 ◯ TEST PRODUCT 24 212 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 25 189 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 26 177⊚ TEST PRODUCT 27 164 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 28 150 ◯ TEST PRODUCT 29 140 ◯ TESTPRODUCT 30 125 Δ

<Hardness of Seating Surface Member>

As indicated by Table 4, test products 31 to 38 were prepared bychanging each hardness of the seating surface member 12 of the exerciseassisting tool 1 according to the second embodiment. Table 4 shows aresult of ease of the exercise of rotational motion of the waist. As forthe symbols ⊚, ◯, Δ, and X in Table 4, of 10 persons, ⊚ represents 8persons or more felt ease of rotational motion of the waist, ◯represents that 5 persons or more felt ease, Δ represents that 3 personsor more felt ease, and X represents that 2 persons or less felt ease.The test products marked with ⊚, ◯, and Δ were evaluated as acceptable.

TABLE 4 HARDNESS (DEGREE) OF BOTTOM SURFACE EASE OF TEST PRODUCT No.MEMBER EXERCISE TEST PRODUCT 31 25 Δ TEST PRODUCT 32 20 ◯ TEST PRODUCT33 16 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 34 12 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 35 10 ⊚ TEST PRODUCT 36 8 ⊚TEST PRODUCT 37 7 ◯ TEST PRODUCT 38 3 Δ

As is known from Table 1, by setting the height H of the seating surface2 to be in the range at least from 105 mm to 448 mm, the exerciseassisting tool 1 ensures effective exercise. Preferably, the height H ofthe seating surface 2 is set to be in the range from 143 mm to 293 mm,and more preferably, from 160 mm to 191 mm.

As is known from Table 2, by setting each height I of the pair oflateral side portions 4 to be in the range from 85 mm to 255 mm, theexercise assisting tool 1 easily ensures both to sufficiently supportthe user's pelvic part, and to allow the user to smoothly perform theexercise, resulting in ease of exercise. Setting each height I of thepair of the lateral side portions to be in the range from 120 mm to 250mm allows the user to exercise more easily, and setting the height to bein the range from 141 mm to 178 mm allows the user to exercise furthereasily upon use of the exercise assisting tool 1.

As is known from Table 3, setting of the curvature radius R of thebottom surface 3 to be in the range from 125 mm to 260 mm allows theuser to exercise more easily upon use of the exercise assisting tool 1.Setting of the curvature radius R of the bottom surface 3 to be in therange from 140 mm to 243 mm allows the user to exercise further easily,and setting of the curvature radius R to be in the range from 164 mm to212 mm allows the user to exercise especially easily.

Though the hardness of the seating surface member 12 is not particularlylimited, any physical burden on the user's waist was alleviated and theuser's body was more fit with the seating surface member by setting thehardness measured by the Shore durometer (model: LX-C, Wenzhou SundooInstruments Co., Ltd., China) to be in the range from 3 degrees to 25degrees, resulting in more ease of exercise. The exercise assisting tool1 allows the user to exercise more easily by setting the hardness of theseating surface member 12 to be in the range from 7 degrees to 20degrees, and allows the user to exercise especially easily by settingthe hardness of the seating surface member 12 to be in the range from 8degrees to 16 degrees.

Fourth Embodiment

An exercise assisting tool 1 according to this embodiment has a supportstand 16 having a ring-like shape as illustrated in FIG. 14. Asillustrated in FIG. 15, the support stand 16, when used, is interposedbetween the bottom surface 3 and the ground surface. Use of the supportstand 16 thus interposed allows the user to control tilting motion ofthe exercise assisting tool 1.

Thus, the use of the interposed support stand 16 allows the user tocontrol unintentional tilting motion of the exercise assisting tool 1.This may facilitate storage of the exercise assisting tool 1 in theunused state. The user may use the exercise assisting tool 1 as a chair,which has the tilting motion controlled by the support stand 16.

Fifth Embodiment

An exercise assisting tool 1 according to this embodiment includes apair of left and right support handles 18 illustrated in FIGS. 16 and17. The support handles 18 are members provided separately from theexercise assisting tool 1. As illustrated in FIG. 16, each of thesupport handles 18 has a gripper 180 having a substantially circularshape that can be gripped by the user. Both ends of the grippers 180 arerespectively provided with ground contact portions 181 formed in acolumnar shape and placed on the ground surface as illustrated in FIG.17.

The ground contact portions 181 respectively have, on both ends thereof,non-slip portions 182 made of a rubber that can prevent any positionalslippage of the ground contact portions 181 placed on the groundsurface.

The support handles 18 are used by the user of the exercise assistingtool 1 to control the tilting motion of the exercise assisting tool 1 byplacing the ground contact portions 181 on the ground surface whilegripping the grippers 180. Accordingly, the user of the exerciseassisting tool 1 can balance with respect to three points, a leg portionand the pair of support handles 18. Slippage of the support handles 18may be suppressed by the non-slip portions 182 formed in the groundcontact portions 181. As a result, the exercise assisting tool 1 becomeseasier to use.

The first to third embodiments represent the examples of the exerciseassisting tool 1 having the curvature radius R of the bottom surface 3substantially equal in the front-back and right-left directions.However, the curvature radius R of the bottom surface 3 may takedifferent values in the front-back and right-left directions. As far asthe curvature radius R in the front-back direction and the curvatureradius R in the right-left direction are in the predefined range, theexercise assisting tool may control the tilting of the seating surface 2to be in the range that is large sufficient to improve the exercisingeffect of rotational motion of the waist and helps the user in balancingas well.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. An exercise assisting tool, comprising: a seatingsurface on which a user is seated; and a body portion having a bottomsurface formed in a substantially spherical shape, wherein: a height ofthe seating surface at a lowermost point is in a range from 100 mm to450 mm; and a regulator means is provided to suppress any slippagebetween buttocks of the seated user and the seating surface.
 13. Theexercise assisting tool according to claim 12, comprising a shape-changeportion as the regulator means on the seating surface or a peripheralarea thereof, which has its shape in accordance with a shape of at leasta part of the buttocks, waist, or groin of the user seated on theseating surface.
 14. The exercise assisting tool according to claim 12,wherein the body portion is provided with a pair of lateral sideportions as the regulator means at positions corresponding to sides of apelvic part of the user seated on the seating surface, which standupright having the seating surface interposed therebetween.
 15. Theexercise assisting tool according to claim 14, wherein the lateral sideportions have plastic properties, and are configured to laterally applya pressing force to the pelvic part of the user seated on the seatingsurface.
 16. The exercise assisting tool according to claim 14, whereina height of the lateral side portion measured from the lowermost pointof the seating surface to an uppermost point of the lateral side portionis in a range from 100 mm to 250 mm.
 17. The exercise assisting toolaccording to claim 12, wherein the seating surface has a raised portionraised from a periphery thereof, which serves as the regulator means ina center of the seating surface at a front-end side.
 18. The exerciseassisting tool according to claim 12, wherein: the body portion has acore body and an outer surface member which covers the core body; thecore body includes a bottom surface member located at the bottom surfaceside, and a seating surface member located at the seating surface side,which are formed by using different materials, respectively; and thebottom surface member has a hardness greater than a hardness of theseating surface member.
 19. The exercise assisting tool according toclaim 12, wherein a center of gravity is set at a position where theseating surface is directed upward when the exercise assisting tool isleft by itself.
 20. The exercise assisting tool according to claim 12,wherein a curvature radius of the bottom surface is in a range from 130mm to 250 mm.
 21. The exercise assisting tool according to claim 12,comprising a support stand that can be interposed between the bottomsurface and a ground surface, which is configured to control a tiltingmotion of the exercise assisting tool.
 22. A pair of left and rightsupport handles used by the user when using the exercise assisting toolsaccording to claim 12, which are provided separately from the exerciseassisting tool, each of the support handles having: a gripper configuredto be gripped by the user; a ground contact portion placed on the groundsurface; and a non-slip portion formed on the ground contact portion,which are configured to suppress a slippage of the ground contactportion placed on the ground surface, wherein the user is allowed toplace the ground contact portion on the ground surface while grippingthe gripper to control the tilting motion of the exercise assistingtool.
 23. The exercise assisting tool according to claim 13, wherein thebody portion is provided with a pair of lateral side portions as theregulator means at positions corresponding to sides of a pelvic part ofthe user seated on the seating surface, which stand upright having theseating surface interposed therebetween.
 24. The exercise assisting toolaccording to claim 13, wherein the seating surface has a raised portionraised from a periphery thereof, which serves as the regulator means ina center of the seating surface at a front-end side.
 25. The exerciseassisting tool according to claim 14, wherein the seating surface has araised portion raised from a periphery thereof, which serves as theregulator means in a center of the seating surface at a front-end side.26. The exercise assisting tool according to claim 15, wherein theseating surface has a raised portion raised from a periphery thereof,which serves as the regulator means in a center of the seating surfaceat a front-end side.
 27. The exercise assisting tool according to claim14, wherein: the body portion has a core body and an outer surfacemember which covers the core body; the core body includes a bottomsurface member located at the bottom surface side, and a seating surfacemember located at the seating surface side, which are formed by usingdifferent materials, respectively; and the bottom surface member has ahardness greater than a hardness of the seating surface member.
 28. Theexercise assisting tool according to claim 14, wherein a center ofgravity is set at a position where the seating surface is directedupward when the exercise assisting tool is left by itself.
 29. Theexercise assisting tool according to claim 14, wherein a curvatureradius of the bottom surface is in a range from 130 mm to 250 mm. 30.The exercise assisting tool according to claim 14, comprising a supportstand that can be interposed between the bottom surface and a groundsurface, which is configured to control a tilting motion of the exerciseassisting tool.
 31. A pair of left and right support handles used by theuser when using the exercise assisting tools according to claim 14,which are provided separately from the exercise assisting tool, each ofthe support handles having: a gripper configured to be gripped by theuser; a ground contact portion placed on the ground surface; and anon-slip portion formed on the ground contact portion, which areconfigured to suppress a slippage of the ground contact portion placedon the ground surface, wherein the user is allowed to place the groundcontact portion on the ground surface while gripping the gripper tocontrol the tilting motion of the exercise assisting tool.